Question regarding light meter reading (sun vs. flourescent)

[Paul Mc]

I'm trying to understand why when I have a light meter under a CFL 45W light with the switch to sun the needle is in the same position as it is when I switch it to the Flourscent setting. I understand that the calculations are different for my meter (sun = # x 1000, flourscent = # x 10). For example, the sun reading might say 2500 but the Flourescent reading would be 250. My confusion is based upon the amount of light I'm seeing and why the two readings are so vastly different.

I'm attempting to determine where to place my new mini orchids in my terrarium and am confused by what I'm reading and the amount of light I'm visually seeing.

[Ray]

I don't understand that at all. Light intensity is light intensity, no matter the source. Yes, the spectrum might be different between two sources, but a lumen is a lumen.

[Paul Mc]

Hey Ray! Well, the light meter is the one I bought from you and I can't seem to find my book at the moment or I would have read to find my answer. I'm sorry.

My confusion is that on the face of the meter it has two different readings. One for Sun & HID and the other for Flourescent readings. The Sun & HID has a "x1000" by it and the HID has a "x10" by it. The Sun & HID is by intervals of 1's while the Flourescent is in intervals of 10's on the needle chart.

So for example, on both settings the needle hits the 3 for Sun and 30 for Flourescent (needle in the exact same place for both settings). After the designated multiplication it's 3000 for sun and 300 for Flourescent.

Again, my apologies for my ignorance when it comes to light. I'm trying my best to learn as much as I can about it now but it's still relatively confusing to me. I was never good at science stuff, lol...